The Eighth Tribe, 1980 (7. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
1980-02-01 / 2. szám
Page 2 THE EIGHTH TRIBE February. 1980 DEDICATION This magazine is dedicated to the Eighth Tribe in America, descendants of the original Seven Magyar Tribes. Whatever their faith, their familiarity with their ancestral language, or their degree of Hungarian ancestry, we address ourselves to each of them. If this reading is your first acquaintance with “THE EIGHTH TRIBE”, we hope you find it informative and enjoyable and that in time you will become one of our regular subscribers. THE EDITOR’S CORNER THE EIGHTH TRIBE FOUNDATION . . . Many new readers have asked for more information concerning the Eighth Tribe Foundation—How it was begun, and its goals. In 1977, the Boards of the Bethlen Home and the Hungarian Reformed Federation decided to stop the operation of the Bethlen Home Orphanage and sell the building. The churches, under the leadership of the two bishops, Rt. Rev. Dr. John Butosi and Rt. Rev. Dezső Abraham (Bishops of the Calvin Synod and the Hungarian Reformed Church in America, respectively) tried unsuccessfully to obtain the building. This would have allowed it to remain in the churches’ hands, so it could continue as a meeting place for church conferences, and create a central point for the Hungarian Reformed Churches in Ame-DONATION TO THE EIGHTH TRIBE FOUNDATION P. 0. Box 637, Ligonier, Pa. 15638 Enclosed is my (our) donation toward the establishment of a Hungarian Cultural Institute in Ligonier, Pennsylvania. I.................................................................................................. Name ........................................................................................ (Husband and wife, please use first names) Address....................................................................................... All donations will be published monthly in the EIGHTH TRIBE. All donations will be refunded if our goal is not realized. rica. Knowing in advance that their efforts would fail, in a last ditch effort to save the building, the Eighth Tribe printed a letter in the July, 1978 issue from a reader who was disturbed by these events and obviously knew the out-come. (The letter came from a north-central state.) To summarize the long letter, he suggested the establishment of an Eighth Tribe Foundation. Its aim would be to collect enough money to buy the building and establish a Hungarian Cultural Institute. Not a 20x20 room, but an Institute unequaled outside Hungary proper. To reach this goal, the reader suggested that 25,000 persons donate $20.00 individually, and subscribe to the magazine. With his enclosed twenty dollars, the Eighth Tribe Foundation was born. Unfortunately, the idea did not receive the support that was expected. The church and lay leaders of the American Hungarian Community were too busy bickering among themselves, and the building was sold. But the idea was now planted and slowly gained recognition. The donations continued, and in their letters, people expressed the feeling that we should not give up, but continue and fulfill the goal. Few individuals repeated their donation in 1978-79. The Foundation received a yearly pledge of $100.00, and was also named as one of the beneficiaries in the will of an American Hungarian. Dr. Albert Wass promised to leave his collection of writings and library to the Institute. Other writers, artists (painters and sculptors) expressed the same desire. At the present time, the donations total only $2,019.00, far from the $500,- 000.00 goal. Since Ligonier, Pa. is known to many as the center of American Hungarian activities, the plan is still to establish the Institute in Ligonier, by purchasing the building complex which houses the Bethlen Press. I have asked Mr. Joseph Széplaki if he would be willing to assume the duties of Curator of the Institute when it becomes a reality. He is willing to do so. Mr. Széplaki is professionally qualified for the position, and speaks both languages, one of the many requirements. It was also suggested that the Foundation take over the ownership of the Bethlen Press. The income from 25,000 subscribers and the proceeds of the Institute would cover the expenses of publishing the magazine, and of the Institute. Also, it would allow publication of many more Hungarian related books, including ’’Louis Kossuth — Champion of Liberty”, compiled by Joseph Széplaki, with the help of Charles Feleky THE EIGHTH TRIBE Editor ........................................................ Sándor E. Chomos Editor: Transylvanian Quarterly ...................... Albert Wass Associate Editor ......................................... István Zolcsák Contributing Editors..........Joseph Széplaki, István E. Tuba, Elizabeth Tuba, Steven B. Várdy, M. Takács Barboe, Endre Nánay, László Könnyű, Mollie E. Webster, Kálmán Bognár, Tibor Flórián. Published and printed monthly by the Bethlen Press, Inc. P.O. Box 637, Ligonier, Pa. 15658, U.S.A. Second Class Postage paid at Ligonier, Pa. 15658, U.S.A. Subscription: $10.00 yearly. Outside U.S.A. $12.00.
